Group pushes North Port not to sell springs

Published: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 3:32 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 3:32 p.m.

NORTH PORT - Even though Sarasota County is offering to buy North Port's half-interest in Warm Mineral Springs, a grass-roots group says it will continue with a petition drive urging the City Commission to rescind its decision to sell.

As of Wednesday, the North Port Advocacy Alliance had collected roughly 600 signatures and was expecting more.

“We will continue with this action until the situation is resolved,” said Wendy Namack, co-founder of the alliance — which organized just weeks ago as a reaction to the city's decision to sell its stake in the springs.

The petitioners may eventually agree that a buyout by the county may be the best solution, Namack said — but, at this point, no one knows if the city and county will come to terms.

In December 2009, the city and county jointly bought the historic tourist destination and archaeological site off U.S. 41 for $5.5 million. They said they wanted to protect the environmentally sensitive resource while also partnering with a yet-to-be-found private entity to enhance the entire 81-acre property and make it a major resort destination.

But after the fall election, a new majority on the City Commission rejected as too broad “an invitation to negotiate” that the county wanted to offer potential developers.

Mayor Linda Yates and newly elected commissioners Cheryl Cook and Rhonda DiFranco later voted 3-2 for the city to sell its half-interest in the springs.

Reaction to that decision has been mixed.

The city's stance prompted Namack and others to form the alliance and organize the petition drive in protest.

Yet many other North Port residents support the commission's call. They cast doubts about public-private partnerships, say local government should not be in the resort business and want Warm Mineral Springs back on the property tax rolls.

Yates notes that the bulk of the property not regarded as the protected springs — about 60 acres — could be used for commercial enterprises.

“Does it make sense for a government entity to own commercial property?” Yates said.

On Tuesday, the Sarasota County Commission offered to buy North Port's share for $2 million on the condition that the city “deannex” the entire 81 acres.

Although it continues with its petition drive, the alliance regards the county's move with mixed feelings.

“I actually believe it is the best-case scenario for Warm Mineral Springs and the worst-case scenario for the city of North Port,” Namack said.

Although the city will continue to get water and sewer revenue from the attraction, by divesting itself of its half-ownership it “stands to lose millions of dollars” if the county and a private partner indeed turn it into a major success, Namack said.

The city has yet to respond to the county's offer.

“We just received it less than 24 hours ago,” Yates said Wednesday afternoon. “It's something our staff will have to look at and gather some details.”

Yates said she is “disappointed” that the County Commission did not put the matter on its agenda so that North Port and other county residents could have had advance notice that the subject was coming up.

“The citizens didn't have a chance to speak,” Yates said.

The offer put together by County Commissioner Christine Robinson, whose district includes North Port, comes with caveats with which the city may take issue.

The county would not fully reimburse the city for the $2.75 million it paid. Robinson contends that the city's actions have harmed the market value of the springs.

The county's insistence that the property be back in the unincorporated area could be a deal breaker, too. That would mean the city would have no say in future development approvals there.

If the springs is “deannexed,” Namack wonders if other property owners in the vicinity will want to do the same because they may want to capitalize on their proximity to the attraction.

“We could actually see our city shrink,” Namack said.

Still, proponents of a public-private partnership hope the county's offer will at least get talks started.

Just last week, the nonprofit North Port Economic Development Corp. forecast that a public-private partnership at the springs could generate an initial economic impact of $20 million to $80 million in new construction and more than 300 jobs.

NPEDC chairman Robert Rosenberg said he regards the county's offer as a positive move forward.

“We need to get off square one,” Rosenberg said.

Rosenberg hopes the city and county will now engage in an active, sincere dialogue that results in the NPEDC's wish that the springs become “an economic catalyst.”

“Hopefully, that dialogue will not go back and forth too many times,” Rosenberg said.

Yates said two objectives remain unchanged: retaining public access to the springs and finding the best way to utilize the rest of the property.

“Those are the two goals and there are many ways to get there,” Yates said.

<p><em>NORTH PORT</em> - Even though Sarasota County is offering to buy North Port's half-interest in Warm Mineral Springs, a grass-roots group says it will continue with a petition drive urging the City Commission to rescind its decision to sell.</p><p>As of Wednesday, the North Port Advocacy Alliance had collected roughly 600 signatures and was expecting more.</p><p>“We will continue with this action until the situation is resolved,” said Wendy Namack, co-founder of the alliance — which organized just weeks ago as a reaction to the city's decision to sell its stake in the springs.</p><p>The petitioners may eventually agree that a buyout by the county may be the best solution, Namack said — but, at this point, no one knows if the city and county will come to terms.</p><p>“It's not a done deal,” Namack said, emphasizing why the petition drive continues. “It's an offer.”</p><p>In December 2009, the city and county jointly bought the historic tourist destination and archaeological site off U.S. 41 for $5.5 million. They said they wanted to protect the environmentally sensitive resource while also partnering with a yet-to-be-found private entity to enhance the entire 81-acre property and make it a major resort destination.</p><p>But after the fall election, a new majority on the City Commission rejected as too broad “an invitation to negotiate” that the county wanted to offer potential developers.</p><p>Mayor Linda Yates and newly elected commissioners Cheryl Cook and Rhonda DiFranco later voted 3-2 for the city to sell its half-interest in the springs.</p><p>Reaction to that decision has been mixed.</p><p>The city's stance prompted Namack and others to form the alliance and organize the petition drive in protest.</p><p>Yet many other North Port residents support the commission's call. They cast doubts about public-private partnerships, say local government should not be in the resort business and want Warm Mineral Springs back on the property tax rolls.</p><p>Yates notes that the bulk of the property not regarded as the protected springs — about 60 acres — could be used for commercial enterprises.</p><p>“Does it make sense for a government entity to own commercial property?” Yates said.</p><p>On Tuesday, the Sarasota County Commission offered to buy North Port's share for $2 million on the condition that the city “deannex” the entire 81 acres.</p><p>Although it continues with its petition drive, the alliance regards the county's move with mixed feelings.</p><p>“I actually believe it is the best-case scenario for Warm Mineral Springs and the worst-case scenario for the city of North Port,” Namack said.</p><p>Although the city will continue to get water and sewer revenue from the attraction, by divesting itself of its half-ownership it “stands to lose millions of dollars” if the county and a private partner indeed turn it into a major success, Namack said.</p><p>The city has yet to respond to the county's offer.</p><p>“We just received it less than 24 hours ago,” Yates said Wednesday afternoon. “It's something our staff will have to look at and gather some details.”</p><p>Yates said she is “disappointed” that the County Commission did not put the matter on its agenda so that North Port and other county residents could have had advance notice that the subject was coming up.</p><p>“The citizens didn't have a chance to speak,” Yates said.</p><p>The offer put together by County Commissioner Christine Robinson, whose district includes North Port, comes with caveats with which the city may take issue.</p><p>The county would not fully reimburse the city for the $2.75 million it paid. Robinson contends that the city's actions have harmed the market value of the springs.</p><p>The county's insistence that the property be back in the unincorporated area could be a deal breaker, too. That would mean the city would have no say in future development approvals there.</p><p>If the springs is “deannexed,” Namack wonders if other property owners in the vicinity will want to do the same because they may want to capitalize on their proximity to the attraction.</p><p>“We could actually see our city shrink,” Namack said.</p><p>Still, proponents of a public-private partnership hope the county's offer will at least get talks started.</p><p>Just last week, the nonprofit North Port Economic Development Corp. forecast that a public-private partnership at the springs could generate an initial economic impact of $20 million to $80 million in new construction and more than 300 jobs.</p><p>NPEDC chairman Robert Rosenberg said he regards the county's offer as a positive move forward.</p><p>“We need to get off square one,” Rosenberg said.</p><p>Rosenberg hopes the city and county will now engage in an active, sincere dialogue that results in the NPEDC's wish that the springs become “an economic catalyst.”</p><p>“Hopefully, that dialogue will not go back and forth too many times,” Rosenberg said.</p><p>Yates said two objectives remain unchanged: retaining public access to the springs and finding the best way to utilize the rest of the property.</p><p>“Those are the two goals and there are many ways to get there,” Yates said.</p>